Minister Charges Staff to Drive Cooperative Reform for Wealth, Jobs, and Shared Prosperity

Abuja – Nigeria: The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi CON has urged staff of the Ministry to take ownership of the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (RH-CRRP), a flagship initiative designed to build community wealth, expand shared prosperity, and create an inclusive cooperative ecosystem across Nigeria.

Speaking at a one-day staff retreat of the Federal Department of Cooperatives held at the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) Complex, Abuja, the Minister described the RH-CRRP as a home-grown blueprint to reposition cooperatives as a central driver of food security, job creation, and inclusive economic growth under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“Across the world, cooperatives have lifted millions out of poverty, expanded access to finance, and strengthened community resilience. Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind. This is why we must reform, revamp, and reposition our cooperative sector to meet present and future demands,” he said.

The Minister mentioned that the key components of transforming the cooperative sector includes; policy and regulatory reforms to improve governance , accountability and ease of conducting comprehensive business, transforming cooperative registrations through digitalization of both the federal and state levels, capacity building for cooperators, cooperative officers, service providers focusing on entrepreneurship, financial literacy and institution development through strengthening the Federal Department of Cooperatives.

He emphasized that the retreat was an opportunity to resolve internal differences, build synergy, and align the department towards one vision. “Let this retreat be the turning point where every staff member—from directors to new recruits—makes a commitment to serve one vision for one Nigeria,” the Minister charged.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, urged staff to embrace the “golden opportunity” to strengthen unity and bonds across all cadres.

In his welcome address, the Director of the Federal Department of Cooperatives, Alhaji Idris Sani, noted that the RH-CRRP will also reinforce the Cooperative Federation of Nigeria (CFN) as the apex umbrella body for the country’s cooperative movement.

The retreat marked a renewed drive to place Nigeria’s cooperative sector at the heart of national development, with staff of the ministry now positioned as key drivers of reform, resilience, and prosperity.